Moo maatou | About us
Waikato-Tainui is a tribal organisation responsible for developing and implementing initiatives which improve iwi outcomes in the areas of education and training, employment, tribal preservation, marae development, health and wellbeing, environmental and resource management.
We exist to continually build the foundations which support every tribal member to exercise their mana motuhake and grow their confidence and capacity to shape and create their own prosperous futures.
Moo te tuunga | About the role
Mokopuna Ora is a kaupapa Maaori strengths-based and whaanau-led model of care and protection. We work to ensure whaanau and hapuu can be actively involved in decision-making on how their mokopuna can remain safely in their care, while reducing the number of Waikato iwi mokopuna entering and remaining in the care and protection system. In situations where mokopuna are unable to be cared for by their whaanau, hapuu, or iwi, we support their connection to their whakapapa and cultural identity.
Mokopuna Ora is at a watershed moment, Oranga Tamariki is seeking to devolve its statutory functions to the community. In response we are entering a period of discovery, feasibility and service design where we will focus on developing our own indigenous care and protection model.
The Operations Manager – Mokopuna Ora is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for leading frontline operations and ensuring Mokopuna Ora delivers consistent, high-quality support for mokopuna and whaanau.
This is a role for someone who can lead effective service delivery today, while strengthening the people, systems and ways of working needed for the future development of a Waikato-led care and protection model.
Working as part of the Operations Leadership Team and the Mokopuna Ora Senior Leadership Team, you will help:
Lead daily frontline operations and ensure systems, processes and workflows operate effectively
Provide strong people leadership, supporting kaimahi to deliver whaanau-centred advocacy aligned with Ki Tua o Ngaku Mokopuna
Maintain service quality and operational performance, ensuring key targets, milestones and requirements are achieved
Identify and manage operational risks, incidents, complaints and emerging issues, escalating these appropriately when required
Strengthen procedures, practice guidelines, process maps and ways of working through continuous improvement
Build strong relationships across whaanau, hapuu, iwi, hapori, Oranga Tamariki and local service providers
Ensure frontline experience and the lived realities of mokopuna and whaanau inform operational decisions and future service design
Support change to be introduced in a way that is well paced, appropriately resourced, understood and sustained by kaimahi and partners
This role suits someone who can balance strategic leadership with the realities of frontline service delivery, is comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity, and can bring people together around a shared purpose. You will be able to look ahead to emerging pressures, opportunities and system changes while maintaining a clear focus on safe, effective and whaanau-centred delivery today.
Ngaa puumanawatanga oou | What you will bring
You will bring significant frontline social work and senior management experience, alongside an in-depth understanding of care and protection, operational leadership and the wider systems affecting mokopuna, whaanau and kaimahi.
We are looking for someone who demonstrates:
Strong and experienced people leadership, with the ability to guide, develop and support high-performing frontline teams
Extensive frontline social work experience and senior leadership experience, preferably within the social or health sectors
In-depth knowledge of care and protection legislation and the social, health, justice, political and community systems affecting mokopuna and whaanau
Experience managing operational performance, workflows, incidents, complaints, risks and quality processes
The ability to strengthen operational systems, procedures and ways of working through continuous improvement
Confidence building and maintaining trusted relationships with whaanau, hapuu, iwi Maaori, communities, government agencies and local service providers
Strong conflict management, judgement and problem-solving skills
The ability to communicate complex information clearly and connect kaimahi with the wider purpose of their work
Experience leading and embedding change in a way that is appropriately phased, paced, resourced and understood
The ability to contribute frontline and sector insights to strategic planning and the future design of services
You will be comfortable working through complexity and ambiguity, balancing immediate operational priorities with opportunities to strengthen and transform the way services are delivered.
You will be a Registered Social Worker with in-depth knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand’s care and protection system. Knowledge of Waikato-Tainui history and Te Whakakitenga o Waikato governance structures will be highly valued, along with proficiency or developing proficiency in te reo Maaori.
Noou te rourou | What’s in it for you
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to work that has real and lasting impact for mokopuna and whaanau.
You will be part of a values-led organisation grounded in Kiingitanga, working in an environment where your thinking, insight and relationships help shape how eco-systems respond and evolve for the better.
Me peehea te tuku tono | How to apply
To apply for this role, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and a tailored cover letter. Your cover letter should highlight your experience and provide examples that demonstrate your ability to operate at a strategic level and influence complex outcomes.
Your CV and your cover letter will form an important part of the shortlisting process.
This position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been appointed.
For a copy of the position description, please use the link below. If the link is not clickable, copy and paste it into your browser. For further paatai, please contact Fraims Tuifua at [email protected].